So far, however, it is uncertain whether the 31-year-old will be allowed to leave. So it makes sense that Aston Villa have a few alternative targets up their sleeve.

And one of those appears to be Strasbourg’s Stephane Bahoken. Who, you ask?

Well, Bahoken has been on quite the journey with Strasbourg since joining one of France’s most vociferously supported clubs in 2014. The Alsace-based side were in the third tier at the time but now, just three-and-a-half years on, are a top tier club.

And Bahoken heralded their return to Ligue 1 by netting a stunning winner in December’s 2-1 home win against none other than Paris Saint-Germain, bringing a stunning end to Les Parisiens’ unbeaten domestic record in 2017/18.

In total, that superb near post finish against the champions-elect was only the 25-year-old’s third Ligue 1 goal of the season. But it must be pointed out that they have come in just six starts, a record that perhaps explains Villa’s sudden, and unexpected, interest.

Danny Owen

Daniel is a Journalist graduate from Leeds Trinity University and is generally obsessed with everything football related. Daniel watches everything from Augsburg in the Bundesliga to Vitesse in the Eredivisie with as much La Liga as possible thrown in for good measure.